I leave tonight for a trip of three persons. Two will be traveling in a tandem and sharing gear / food. I will be a self-contained solo.

This is my 8-day set-up, weighing in a total of 65 pounds (canoe, gear, tackle, paddles, life-vest). I can single-portage this if the portage is less than 200 r and not portage 907.

Three main areas of excess weight on this trip include:
minimal fishing tackle (1.5 pound)
heavier rain gear 1lb (1/2lb set is leaking and old)
Jetboil instead of MSR-type set-up because it's what I have
down top quilt, down underquilt, long-sleeved shirt and liner-pants for sleeping because I sleep cold, and it could easily fall into the forties at night
an UL camp chair and a paperback
probably more sunscreen than I need but I don't want to run out

Heavy things that I don't feel I can leave behind include:
extra paddle
portage yolk
my CCS pack and thwart bag
monocular

Things I've shed:
volumes of dried fruit, nuts, trail mix
all powdered drink mix like lemonade, cocoa. Just instant coffee and some tea bags
nalgene and larger volume gravity filter (just taking a BeFree; admittedly the others will have a system in case mine is lost or broken).
heavy hammock
nylon tarp for sil-nylon tarp
heavier rope for lighter weight rope

Any thoughts or ideas to make it more streamlined?

65 Lb's is better than I would do for an 8 day trip, so I'm not sure I'm a great help. Set up looks really good to me. Just curious if your canoe trim is ok with the single pack?

That's a well thought out kit! You have a couple of luxury items, but nothing wrong with that. I think you've done a great job weeding out the unnecessary items. I'd leave well enough alone now and just enjoy the trip. Great job! Have fun!

paddlinjoe: "65 Lb's is better than I would do for an 8 day trip, so I'm not sure I'm a great help. Set up looks really good to me. Just curious if your canoe trim is ok with the single pack? "

It's a consideration for sure. The pack is 25 lbs and sits directly behind me. The thwart bag is 5lbs. That's it for weight other than my pfd, paddles and fishing rod.

I carry a double liner system in the canoe pack (Ostrum liner and contractor bag). If the day is going to be windy, I will remove the Ostrum liner (easily done on shore) and use this to fill with water as needed and place in the front in a headwind, rear in a tailwind. Has worked on shorter solos with less gear. But we'll see. I have switched to a double-blade this season for better stability in windy conditions.

Sounds like a good plan. Have a great trip!

Looks like a great setup. Hope you didn’t go too light or you’ll end up leaving your friends in the dust. Have a great trip!

Good stuff - rock it!

Report back when you return.

Looks like a great setup. Including all my food and gear, the grand total weight on my solo trip was 75 lbs. and I was able to single portage (including a 460 rod) quite effectively so I think you will be in great shape. Have a wonderful trip!

sns: "Good stuff - rock it!
Report back when you return."

Sorry for the delay. Man, it was a great trip. What do you even say to do justice to time spent paddling with friends I met in 1984?

We self-evacuated a day before they closed it down. The smoke was intense, the signs of drought and climate change even more so. Fishing was some of the best I'd ever had - not sure if I should be happy or downcast about that. Wondered if the fish were stressed. We fished the shady spots and got bite after bite on artificial lures.

We paddled 20 - 30 mph gusty headwinds, swam to stay cool, fished dawn to dark, drank wine, and laughed so we didn't cry.

Sunrise in a forest fire


Happy Hour


Tailwind

Great pics! Glad you got to go and it went so well.

Most excellent! Good photos; look forward to a TR. I came out of my solo a few days ago.

Carried ~53 pounds, including the canoe, clothes, canoe, PFD, everything. Your 460 is impressive! We hit two over 300 rods (well-traveled), two over 240 (unmaintained & rugged) and felt we were almost as fast on land as in the water.

Loved it; Cerberus is still giving me the stink-eye for taking her away from GrouseLand.

Welcome home.

jillpine, did you miss or need any of the items you shed off the packing list? Sorry, but I read your follow-up post two weeks after your return.

mjmkjun: "jillpine, did you miss or need any of the items you shed off the packing list? Sorry, but I read your follow-up post two weeks after your return.
"

Neither missed nor needed. Had we stayed the additional four nights (9 total) as planned (but cut short by closure), would have wanted:
- continued fish for dinner or more protein
- addnl oil for fish would have been good - would have just poached in water if needed, as we ran out of oil
- more toilet paper or just resorted to large leaf aster

Stuff I didn't need:
- heavy paperback "in case of rain" (one can be hopeful). Nice for a solo - wasn't needed for a group trip - total waste of weight
- underquilt
- heavy rain gear, but it's what I had at the last minute (the lightweight gear was leaking)
- CCS thwart bag. Painful to say, because I love CCS products. If anyone wants to buy it, I think I will part with it.
my pillow - I need to just get over hauling a camp pillow out there. It's a 40 yr habit.

really glad that I packed:
- a plano with six lures - caught fish for supper every night we wanted - was glad not to be lugging around fishing tackle I didn't need, and still catching fish.
- a new UL hammock (anyone want to buy a Clark NX250 - same good deal as the thwart bag)
- UL camp chair
- bag o' wine was nice (don't bring -OH on a solo)

On the solo I just finished (in October), was really glad I added:
- underquilt
- additional fuel (it was so damp and foggy)
- wool
- beanie
- paperback

So, there you go. It all depends on:
when you go
with whom you go
what you want
what you need

:)

Here is a trip report:
headed out:


fishing dogs


pike in a fire ban


surgeon jenn


20 - 30 mph gusts, fish on and duffing it


happiest place in the world

Well done ...Thanks for educating the rest of us.

My favorite camp shoe is the Winter Crocs, not only are they lined, but the venting is on the top, so my feet stay dry while walking in wet grass. Nice set up ! Thanks for sharing !